Double post. Sorry!

This thread, the Altoids tin challenge, and my son's Cub Scout Camping badge work, got me thinking about the now empty Altoids tin in the kitchen junk basket. my son and I just turned it into a little kit with:

-6 lifeboat matches*
-2 birthday candles*
*wrapped in 2 ziplock bags and secured with a little duct tape
-1 mini BIC
-1 scaple blade (wrapped in a little tinfoil)
-1 standard razor blade (wrapped in tin foil)
-1 white mini LED
-1 tube of lip balm
-5 cotton balls
-1 hard candy
-1 wool needle
-1 flexible straw

The tin has been wrapped in duct tape and is currently waiting for some paracord whipping.

Not the most robust kit in the world, and heavy on fire, but not a bad suplimentary kit for the car or hiking kit in the Canadian winter.

I think that one of the things we have learned about being prepared is to have a hierarchical approach to our kits.

The first step in the hierarchy is what we have in our pockets--however packaged. After that is what is in our EDC bag, whatever it is called (including a purse). Then it is what is quick access behind the driver's seat in the car, followed by something bigger in the trunk.

And, not to belabor the obvious, where you live changes a lot. North Dakota in the winter vs. southern Florida in the summer. extra warmwear vs. mosquito netting clothing.

Absolutely right on both points, Hanscom. The similarities are generalizations like shelter, fire, water, food, comms and protection, but what those mean and how they are prioritized will be individualized to each of us. We might all carry basics like water, fire, knife, light and whistle but what those are exactly will be different for each of us.

Hey All, I still carry an Altoids Based Kit (and even smaller) when I need to have the lightest back-up kit I can because of all the other work/play equipment I am caring. I do cheat on this though because I almost always have my usual EDC equipment on me also. I am working on a new Belt Pouch, Altoid Tin based Hunting kit that I started 2 years ago and must have finished by next fall. Later, Mike

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with

Ditto! Warning to all newbies - kit design and modification can easily become an addiction. A fun and useful one, but addiction no less.

for a belt pouch ...the remnants of my AMK (I EDC some of it) reside in an ammo pouch with bellows gussets (approx 5x3x2"), velcro full flap... holds Adventure Medical Kit, Heat Sheet, MRE beverage bag, Katadyn ClO2 tabs, full faceplate Silva compass with Ranger beads,wire saw, SAK with scissors and saw, Bic and firesteel

for EDC a generic multitool pouch... LM Juice S2, ClO2 tabs, water bag from food processor pouch, section hacksaw blade, safety pins, needle, small firesteel, duct tape on card, and straw with petroleum cotton ball... the rest of the EDC items, P38,Fenix,whistle,pill fob are on the key ring, a couple of cloth bandaids, non adherent pad, and small bloodstopper gauze in the wallet